Illinois county clerks roll out gay marriage law

By The Associated Press

June 2, 2014

SPRINGFIELD – Dozens of county clerk offices across Illinois are set to begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

Sunday was the legal start of gay marriage in Illinois. Only a few of the 102 county clerks statewide opened to issue the documents because the day fell on a weekend. So for many, Monday marks the widespread rollout of the law. Gov. Pat Quinn plans to mark the occasion by attending a wedding at Chicago's Museum of Contemporary Art on Monday afternoon.

More than a dozen counties started issuing the licenses earlier this year after a federal court ruling, but most counties opted to wait until the law officially took effect June 1.

Sunday was also the first day couples in civil unions could file to have their unions converted to marriages.